As it becomes available in its 28th state, Assurance Wireless can
help more than 114,211 eligible Maine residents stay connected

September 08, 2011 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

WARREN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Assurance
Wireless, which provides eligible residents with a free cell phone
and 250 free monthly voice minutes introduces its services to Maine
residents. Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program supported
by the federal Universal Service Fund.

More than 53,200 Maine residents are currently without a job and more
than 12.3 percent are living below the federal poverty line. Assurance
Wireless gives eligible customers the ability to provide a contact
number and return calls to a prospective employer, which, studies show,
can improve the chances of securing employment. According to a
nationwide survey from Assurance Wireless*, adults with an income of
less than $25,000 are as likely to use their mobile phone for employment
searches as those with higher incomes.

“As we’ve become available in more and more states, Assurance is proud
to help customers stay connected to potential employers, medical
providers and child care-givers,” said David Trimble, vice president for
Assurance Wireless. “We look forward to providing this same type of
assistance to eligible Maine residents who need support and resources
during, what continue to be, rough economic times for many.”

“I was unemployed for an extended amount of time due to layoffs,” stated
Evan M., 37, a current Assurance Wireless customer. “The phone and
service I received from Assurance Wireless were invaluable to my finding
new employment and to my efforts to recover from this recession. It
allowed me to contact potential employers and provide a way for them to
respond to me, while also saving money. Assurance also gave me peace of
mind that I had a way to stay connected to my kids while away from home.”

Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program funded through the
Universal Service Fund designed to insure that quality
telecommunications services are available to low-income consumers at
affordable rates. Customers eligible for Assurance Wireless include
those who participate in Medicaid/Maine Care Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps (SNAP) Home Energy Assistance Program
(HEAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Emergency Assistance
Program. Customers may also qualify based on low household income.
Eligibility varies by state. Supporting documentation is required to
prove eligibility.

According to a recent report, “if all 28.5 million adults eligible for
Lifeline Assistance were to take advantage of the program and earn at
the same rate and level as [the study] sample, it would result in $3.7
billion in fresh income for the poor and near poor.”1

In addition to a voice mail account2 and call waiting,
Assurance Wireless provides caller ID and access to 911 in case of
emergency. Beyond the 250 free voice minutes each month, customers can
choose from other options to pay for additional minutes, texting,
international calling and more at competitive rates.

Meanwhile, people who don’t quite qualify for Assurance Wireless but who
are also struggling in the current economy and searching for value, can
take advantage of payLo by Virgin Mobile. payLo was especially designed
with value-conscious wireless consumers in mind, offering plans for as
little as $20/month for 400 minutes or 90 days of service for $20 at a
rate of $0.20/minute. payLo is available at more than 40,000 retail
stores, including Best Buy, RadioShack and Target.

Assurance Wireless is currently available in Alabama, Arkansas,
Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Utah, Washington and West
Virginia. This list of states continues to expand and can be found on
the Assurance website.

About Assurance Wireless

Assurance Wireless, brought to you by Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint’s
prepaid brands, is supported by the Lifeline Assistance program, part of
the Low Income Program of the federal Universal Service Fund (USF),
which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC). Assurance Wireless uses the Nationwide Sprint Network which
reaches more than 278 million people.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52
million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United
States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid
brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance
Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities;
and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in
its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest
companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn
more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com
or www.facebook.com/sprint
and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Note:sources for all information and statistics are available
upon request*PKS Research Partners was commissioned by
Sprint/Nextel (Assurance Wireless) to conduct a research project among a
nationally representative sample of U.S. adults 25 years or older in
order to determine their attitudes toward and usage of mobile phones.